New Zealand’s Earthquake Commission (EQC) has classified the October 9 aftershock as a new event for insurance purposes.

The 5.5-magnitude tremor occurred at 8.34pm on Sunday. There have been few reports of injury or damage.

Householders have until January 9 to lodge claims for home and contents damage under the EQC’s policy of allowing three months for lodgement.

The new event comes after the claims deadlines for the series of earthquakes and aftershocks ran out on September 21, with the last major event being the aftershock on June 21.

Sunday’s aftershock is the 14th EQC insurance event since the first earthquake on September  last year.